Economized Reciprocating Compressor With Split Suction Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing economized reciprocating compressors face inefficiencies due to additional valve flow losses and friction, as well as limited cooling capacity, resulting from staged compression and undesirable suction flow to economizer flow ratios, which lead to low operating efficiency and reduced capacity.
Innovation Solution
The compressor design features multiple cylinder banks with distinct suction and discharge chambers, allowing for a higher suction flow to economizer flow ratio, optimized valve plate configurations, and a crankshaft-driven mechanism to enhance efficiency, with the economizer port integrated into the cylinder head, enabling improved refrigerant flow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If staged compression with economizer flow introduced at interstage is used, then cooling capacity is improved, but valve flow losses and friction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor is divided into multiple cylinder banks (first cylinder bank with first and second stages, second cylinder bank with third stage) that operate independently with separate suction and discharge ports. This segmentation allows each bank to handle specific compression stages without refrigerant flow passing through multiple valve sets, reducing valve flow losses and friction while maintaining staged compression cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
An interstage cooler is introduced as an intermediary component between compression stages to subcool the refrigerant between stages. This intermediary device enables efficient heat transfer and refrigerant management without requiring the refrigerant to pass through additional valve sets, thereby reducing valve flow losses while maintaining the cooling effect of staged compression.
2Adaptability or versatility
If low ratio of suction flow intake to economizer port intake is used, then economized compression is achieved, but operating efficiency and capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor employs multiple suction ports and multiple discharge ports with independently controlled cylinder banks, enabling dynamic adjustment of the suction flow to economizer flow ratio. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize the ratio according to operating conditions, achieving both economized compression and high operating efficiency without being constrained to fixed low ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cylinder bank is designed with both suction and discharge ports, allowing the same cylinder bank to handle multiple functions including suction, compression, and discharge operations. This multi-functionality enables flexible configuration where different cylinder banks can be activated based on demand, optimizing the suction to economizer flow ratio while maintaining high capacity and efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration achieves a higher suction flow to economizer flow ratio, enhancing operating efficiency and cooling capacity, thereby improving the overall performance of the vapor compression system.
Implementation Method 1
a crankshaft held by the case for rotation about a crankshaft axis and coupled to the pistons
Implementation Method 2
a first cylinder bank having a plurality of cylinders; a plurality of pistons, each individually associated with a respective one of the cylinders
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor (22) has: a case (32) defining: a first cylinder bank (70) having a plurality of cylinders (76, 77); a cylinder head (100); a suction port (26); a discharge port (28); and an economizer port (30); a plurality of pistons, each individually associated with a respective one of the cylinders; and a crankshaft (202) held by the case for rotation about a crankshaft axis and coupled to the pistons. The first cylinder bank cylinder head is divided into: a first suction chamber (130); a second suction chamber (132); and a single discharge chamber (128). The first cylinder bank first suction chamber is coupled to the suction port. The first cylinder bank second suction chamber is coupled to the economizer port. The first cylinder bank discharge chamber is coupled to the discharge port.